Glue dispenser for cigarette making machine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for dispensing glue for use with a cigarette maker, which comprises a cylinder having an outlet orifice therein, a plunger mounted for slidable movement in the cylinder and operable to dispense glue out said orifice, means coupling the plunger and the cigarette maker for driving said plunger toward said orifice at a rate commensurate with the demand for glue of the cigarette maker, and means coupled to the plunger independent of the cigarette maker for driving said plunger toward and away from said orifice.

United States Patent Cristiani 51 Oct. 24, 1972 [54] GLUE DISPENSER FORCIGARETTE 3,208,638 9/1965 Frenzel et a1. ..222/333 X MAKING MACHINE3,259,323 7/1966 Sanders .222/333 X 72 Inventor: Athos crisfiani BolognaItaly 8/I969 BlCkfOl'd el al 3,469,741 9/1969 Bickford et a1. ..222/2[73] Assignee: AMF Incorporated {221 Fii d; J 30 197 PrimaryExaminer--M. Henson Wood, Jr.

Assistant Examiner-Thomas C. Culp, Jr. [2]] Appl 158d Attorney-George W.Price et a1.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT July 23, 1970 Italy..12835 A/70 Apparatus for dispensing glue for use with a cigarettemaker, which comprises a cylinder having an outlet 3 orifice therein, aplunger mounted for slidable move- 222/386 ment in the cylinder andoperable to dispense glue out [51] Int. Cl ..G0lf 11/06 Said i meanscoupling the plunger and the [58] Fleld of Search ..222/1, 2, 333, 386cigarette maker for driving Said plunger toward said orifice at a ratecommensurate with the demand for [56] References c glue of the cigarettemaker, and means coupled to the UNITED STATES PATENTS plungerindependent of the cigarette maker for driving 'said plunger toward andaway from said orifice. 1,829,789 11/1931 Dammeyer ..222/333 3,143,3938/1964 De Seguin ..222/2 X 9, Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENTEDnm 24 m2N VENTOR ATHOS CRLST/AN/ BACKGROUND This invention relates to gluedispenser units and more particularly to glue dispensers used incigarette making machines to apply a film of glue along one edge of thepaper tape that receives the tobacco braid in order to enable theclosing and sealing of the tape around the braid to form the continuousrod from which the individual cigarettes are cut.

A glue dispenser unit generally comprises means for applying a thin filmof fluid glue on an edge of the cigarette paper tape and dispenser meansfor feeding the glue to the aforementioned glue applying unit. The glueapplying means and the glue dispensing means are interconnected by asuitable duct or hose or the like. This arrangement allows the glueapplying unit only to be placed in the rod forming area while the gluedispensing unit, which is somewhat larger, to be located in a moresuitable or convenient position for the service and/or maintenancethereof.

Briefly, the glue feeding means, or dispenser, consists of a cylindricalhousing within which a plunger is mounted for slidable movement. Theplunger is coupled to the cigarette maker proper to assure a flow ofwhich is proportionate to the cigarette maker rate of production.

In the past, this arrangement has involved some inconveniences. Morespecifically, every time the cigarette maker is started, the machineoperator must actuate a handwheel to move the plunger forward in thecylinder to bring the glue to the required distribution pressure. And,every time the cigarette maker is stopped, the glue distribution mustalso be stopped and this result is obtained by moving the plunger in theglue pot backward by means of the same handwheel. Furthermore, when thesupply of glue in the cylinder is exhausted, in order to remove theempty cylinder and replace it with a full one the plunger must bereturned to its start position by turning the handwheel.

SUMMARY It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide animproved glue supply system.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved gluedispenser system used. on a cigarette maker.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improvedglue feeding unit coupled to a cigarette maker wherein the feeding unitis responsive to the cigarette maker but operable independently thereofas well.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide a gluedispenser unit for a cigarette maker with dual actuation means, onemeans being a coupling to the maker and the other be independentthereof.

In accordance with these and other objects, an improved glue dispensingunit according to the invention may comprise a cylinder having an outletorifice therein, a plunger mounted for slidable movement in the cylinderand operable to dispense glue out said oritice, means coupling theplunger and the cigarette maker for driving said plunger toward saidorifice at a rate commensurate with the demand for glue of the cigarettemaker, and means coupled to the plunger independent of the cigarettemaker for driving said plunger toward and away from said orifice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The single FIGURE of the drawing is aperspective view of a glue dispensing unit according to the inventionwith parts thereof broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the singleFIGURE of the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the invention comprisesa glue cylinder 1 having a plunger 2 mounted for slidable movementtherein and a glue dispensing orifice 101 adjacent the top thereof. Theglue is disposed above the plunger 2 and the upward movement thereof incylinder 1 dispenses glue from the orifice 101. A piston rod or stem 3having a threaded section 103 and a longitudinal groove 203 is rotatablymounted to the plunger.

The plunger 2 is normally moved upwardly in cylinder 1 to dispense glueby a drive chain A coupled to the cigarette maker. Drive chain Aincludes an eccentric 4 mounted on a driving element of the maker, aconnecting rod 5 mounted on the eccentric, the other end of which isconnected to a crank, 6. The crank 6 is keyed to a shaft 7a having atoothed wheel 7 thereon that meshes with a second toothed wheel 8. Thesecond toothed wheel 8 is mounted on a shaft 8a having a worm screw 9mounted on 'the other end thereof that meshes with a helical wheel 10.

A threaded section is formed in the inside of the hub wheel 10 and thethreaded section 110 is mounted on the threaded section 103 of pistonrod or stem 3.

The wheel 10 is mounted to the frame of the device with the quantity ofglue normally required by the machine and the elements of drivearrangement A are so chosen and sized.

In addition, the upward and downward motion of plunger 2 in cylinder 1can be caused by an actuating mechanism B that is operable independentlyfrom the drive arrangement A. Actuating mechanism B comprises areversible electric motor 11 having an output shaft 11a. A pulley 11b ismounted on output shaft 11a and a pulley 13a is mounted on a shaft 13bmounted in spaced relationship with shaft 11a. A drive belt 12 drivesshaft 13b from output shaft 11a. A worm screw 13 is mounted on shaft 13aand meshes with a toothed wheel 14 with helical toothing. Toothed wheel14 is mounted around stem 3 and is supported in such a way as to rotateabout the axis of the stem 3, without moving longitudinally therealong.The toothed wheel 14 includes a hub portion 14a that is provided with aninwardly extending tongue 15 that is mounted in the groove 203 providedin the stem 3 to transfer rotational movement of toothed wheel 14 to thestem.

This arrangement results in the actions of the drive arrangements A andB being cumulative. That is, both wheel 14 is rotated faster than wheel10, and in the op-,

posite direction, then the stem and plunger will be driven downwardly.

The motor 11 can be coupled to the cigarette maker such that it startsrunning automatically when the maker is started and both drivearrangements, A and B, drive the plunger 2 upwardly to impose a pressureon the glue in the cylinder. In another arrangement, motor 11 is notcoupled to the maker and can be actuated while the maker is off toimpose pressure on the glue before the maker is turned on so glue can bedispensed immediately upon the commencement of the making sequence. Witheither arrangement, when the pressure in the cylinder reaches thepre-established dispensing value, the shaft of screw 13 is submitted toa back pressure, resulting in an axial stress along shaft 13a thatcounteracts a force along that shaft provided by calibrated spring 16,the purpose of which is to withstand the axial stress resulting from thecoupling between worrn screw 13 and helical wheel 14. The back pressurecauses a rod 17 affixed to shaft 13a through a mounting disc 17a toactuate a microswitch 18, which is coupled to the circuit of motor 11 tostop the same. When the motor 11 is stopped, the forward motion'ofplunger 2 in cylinder 1 will be determined only by drive arrangement A,which is the rate at which the cigarette maker is running.

Every time the cigarette maker itself stops, a circuit coupled to motor1 1 automatically starts the latter running in the reverse direction tomove the plunger downwardly in cylinder 1. A suitable timer (not shown)stops the motor 11 when the pressure in cylinder 1 is exhausted. I

While the cigarette maker is running, the operator can, by means of apushbutton P1, run motor 11 in such a way as to increase the gluepressure in the pot, since, as stated. above, the coupling of themechanism B driven by motor 11 to the stem 3 is additive to the couplingof the mechanism A from the cigarette maker to the stem 3. Conversely,the actuation of a pushbutton P2 causes motor 11 to rotate in such a wayas to lower plunger 2 in cylinder 1.

When plunger 2 reaches the end of its stroke at the top of the cylinder,a disk or flange 19 integral with the lower end of stem 3 engages a fork120 which receives the stem 3 between its tines. Fork 120 is mounted ona rod 20 which is mounted parallel to stem 3 and is maintainedelastically balanced between two helical positioning springs 220 actingin opposite directions against the fork 120. A crank pin 121 rides in anotch 20a provided in rod 20 and is mounted on shaft 21a driving a cam21. The engagement of disc 19 with fork 120 causes the upwarddisplacement of the latter and a consequent axial upward sliding of rod20. This sliding causes an angular rotation of crank 121 whereby cam 21rotates in such a way as to actuate a microswitch 22 included in acircuit which stops the maker or motor 11.

If it is required to substitute the empty cylinder 1 with a full one,the motor 1 l is run to lower the plunger 2 in its position out of thelower end of the empty cylinder. In this position, plunger 2 engages thetop free end of rod 20, whereby the rod is caused to slide downwardagainst the action of positioning springs 220 and the consequentrotation of crank 121 causes cam 23 to actuate microswitch 24. Theactuation of this microswitch causes motor 11 to stop. The emptycylinder can then be substituted with a full one and subsequently thecigarette maker can be re-started.'

A double cylinder and plunger unit can be provided according to theinvention, each associated with actuating devices as set forth above. Inthis embodiment, the depletion of the glue in one cylinder does notnecessitate the stopping of the maker. Instead, by providingsolenoid-operated couplings on the, respective shafts that drive theeccentrics 4 of the two dispensers involved, the signal from actuationof the microswitch 22 at the end of the upper stroke of plunger 2 can beused to cause the switching of the coupling of the glue applicator fromone dispenser to the other. By so doing, it is possible to easilysubstitute the depleted cylinder of the exhausted dispenser while themaker continues to run fed by the other dispenser. To avoidinterferences between the two alternately operating dispensers,non-retum valves could be provided in the delivery ducts of thecylinders.

Having now fully set forth both structure and operation of preferredembodiments of the concept underlying the present invention, it may bethat various other embodiments as well as certain variations andmodifications of the embodiments herein shown and described will occurto those skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlyingconcept. All such embodiments, variations and modifications asincorporate the spirit of the invention and depend upon its underlyingconcept are consequently to be considered as within the scope of theclaims appended herebelow, unless the claims by their language expresslystate otherwise.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing liquids, which comprises:

a cylinder having an outlet orifice therein,

a plunger mounted for slidable movement in the cylinder,

a piston rod affixed to and depending from the plunger,

first means coupled to the piston rod for driving the plunger toward theorifice, and

second means coupled to the piston rod for driving the plunger towardand away from the orifice,

the operation of the first and second drive means on the plunger beingcumulative. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piston rod isprovided with a threaded portion and the first driving means is coupledto the piston rod by an axially fixed, internally threaded gearthreadedly mounted on the threaded portion of the piston rod.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the piston rod is providedwith an axially extending groove and the second driving means is coupledto the piston rod by an axially fixed gear mounted on the piston rod andhaving an internal key thereon that is received in the piston rodgroove.

4. Apparatus for dispensing glue for use with a cigarette maker, whichcomprises:

a cylinder having an outlet orifice therein,

a plunger mounted for slidable movement in the cylinder and operable todispense glue out said orifice,

means coupling the plunger and the cigarette maker means coupling bothof said plunger driving means to said piston rod for cumulative drivingof said plunger. 8. A method of dispensing glue for use in a cigarettefor driving said plunger toward said orifice at a 5 making operation,comprising the steps of:

rate commensurate with the demand for glue of the cigarette maker, andmeans coupled to the plunger independent of the cigarette maker fordriving said plunger toward and away from said orifice. 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprismg:

means responsive to the attaining of a predetermined glue pressure inthe cylinder for de-activating the independent plunger driving means. 6.Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprismg:

means responsive to the exhaustion of glue in the cylinder forde-activating the plunger driving means. 7. Apparatus according to claim4, further comprismg:

a piston rod mounted to said plunger, and

providing a cylinder with a plunger and an outlet,

driving the plunger toward the outlet with at least a first drive meansuntil a predetermined glue pressure has been attained,

de-activating the first drive means upon the attaining of thepredetermined glue pressure,

driving the plunger toward the orifice with a second drive means that iscoupled to the cigarette maker,

sensing the exhaustion of the glue in the cylinder,

and

de-activating the drive means upon the sensing of the exhaustion of gluein the cylinder.

9. .A method according to claim 8, comprising the further step of:

driving the plunger away from the orifice and out of the cylinder afterthe exhaustion of the glue therein.

1. Apparatus for dispensing liquids, which comprises: a cylinder having an outlet orifice therein, a plunger mounted for slidable movement in the cylinder, a piston rod affixed to and depending from the plunger, first means coupled to the piston rod for driving the plunger toward the orifice, and second means coupled to the piston rod for driving the plunger toward and away from the orifice, the operation of the first and second drive means on the plunger being cumulative.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the piston rod is provided with a threaded portion and the first driving means is coupled to the piston rod by an axially fixed, internally threaded gear threadedly mounted on the threaded portion of the piston rod.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the piston rod is provided with an axially extending groove and the second driving means is coupled to the piston rod by an axially fixed gear mounted on the piston rod and having an internal key thereon that is received in the piston rod groove.
 4. Apparatus for dispensing glue for use with a cigarette maker, which comprises: a cylinder having an outlet orifice therein, a plunger mounted for slidable movement in the cylinder and operable to dispense glue out said orifice, means coupling the plunger and the cigarette maker for driving said plunger toward said orifice at a rate commensurate with the demand for glue of the cigarette maker, and means coupled to the plunger independent of the cigarette maker for driving said plunger toward and away from said orifice.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: means responsive to the attaining of a predetermined glue pressure in the cylinder for de-activating the independent plunger driving means.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: means responsive to the exhaustion of glue in the cylinder for de-activating the plunger driving means.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a piston rod mounted to said plunger, and means coupling both of said plunger driving means to said piston rod for cumulative driving of said plunger.
 8. A method of dispensing glue for use in a cigarette making operation, comprising the steps of: providing a cylinder with a plunger and an outlet, driving the plunger toward the outlet with at least a first drive means until a predetermined glue pressure has been attained, de-activating the first drive means upon the attaining of the predetermined glue pressure, driving the plunger toward the orifice with a second drive means that is coupled to the cigarette maker, sensing the exhaustion of the glue in the cylinder, and de-activating the drive means upon the sensing of the exhaustion of glue in the cylinder.
 9. A method according to claim 8, comprising the further step of: driving the plunger away from the orifice and out of the cylinder after the exhaustion of the glue therein. 